I’ve heard these many times and I don’t know where they originated from but they’re definitely worth reiterating.

If you want to keep balance in your life, whether its between work and family, or doing and spirituality, or anything and anything, then start working these three simple rules:

Take the aspect that dominates (for most of us, of necessity, work time dominates family time for instance) and make sure you:

Divert Daily

Every day make sure you put at least a small amount of time aside where you intentionally divert from work work and specifically do something with your family.

This may be something as simple as making sure that you breakfast or have dinner together.  It may be a case of making sure you have one on one time with each member every day.

Remember, this shouldn’t be complex or involve time commitments that make it impossible to actually do (that would defeat the purpose).

Withdraw Weekly

Each week make sure you have (preferably) at least one full day that you rest from your work and can devote a reasonable amount of to your family (remember to include your own need for refreshing in this!)

When talking work and family an important thing to remember is to make sure you don’t just think about kids here.  Quite frankly, the best present you can ever give your kids are parents who love each other, so try and have a weekly “date” with your spouse.

Abandon Annually

Make sure you take at least a full week totally away from work every year.  This is so important.  If you’re not refreshed on an annual basis, your work/family balance will simply go out the window.  Your work will suffer and your family relationships will come under stress.

Not all of us can afford an annual holiday so be creative about how you do it.  But definitely do it!

Do you have a special way of doing these things that may help others?  Leave a comment and let me know.

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